1 Kings 16:31 Ahab also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him.
Ahab married the Phoenician woman, Jezebel, the daughter of the King of Sidonians. The Phoenicians whose ancestors were the Canaanites, worshiped a swarm of gods and goddesses and the chief among them was Baal. The betrothal of Ahab, the wicked king of Israel was more a political alliance than a romantic affair. Ahab did the very thing that the Lord strictly prohibited the people of Israel not to do when they settle down in the Promised Land. Deuteronomy 7:3 Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, because they will turn your sons away from Me to worship other gods. The newly crowned queen Jezebel brought her culture, belief system and her style of worship which corrupted Israel. As newlyweds normally do, Ahab set up an altar for Baal and also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel. Hence this political coalition from the bridal alliance brought corruption, corrosion, compromise and contaminated the nation of Israel.
Few metaphorical allegories to our spiritual life from the blunder of Ahab in choosing a slanderous bride:
1. Coalition: A wrong coalition will disconnect us from truth and godly connections. 1 Kings 18:4 Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord. Our companionships, friendships and partnership with the wrong people will bring curse and corruption into our lives. 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Bad company corrupts good character.” The Lord prohibited intermarriage with heathens as the spouse would have a very strong influence in our daily practices, piety and preferences. This also includes business associations and friends circle who are influential. If we are surrounded by wrong voices we will make the wrong choices.
2. Compromise: 1 Kings 21:25 There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. Ahab watched his wife shed the innocent blood of the prophets of God. He permitted the influence of the false prophets not only into his life but also to rule the nation of Israel. 1 Kings 18:19 says that 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah ate at Jezebel’s table every day. We also read that the prophets of the Lord God were hiding in caves in fear of being persecuted and executed by Jezebel. Wrong coalition will creep compromise and corruption into our lives.
3. Contamination: Marriage coalition of corruption and compromise will give birth to contamination and cruelty. The slanderous bride of Ahab devised a wicked plan to snatch the property of Naboth. 1 Kings 21:13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” Ahab killed Naboth and deviously snatched his possessions. Wickedness ran rampant through the length and breadth of the country when idolatry and injustice was on the throne.
The devious coalition and choice of Ahab corrupted not only the King of Israel but corroded the nation of Israel with idolatry and adultery. Baal the god of the Phoenicians was a god of fertility and travesty, hence brought dissension, perversion and corruption to contaminate “Israel the bride”. The most important lesson from the life of Ahab is indulging in wrong company will contaminate us to become a slanderous and unscrupulous bride.
Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked rule, the people mourn.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, keep me away from corrupt company that can taint, stain and tamper me into a slanderous bride. Help me to be a holy, pure and spotless bride. Amen
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